Applied Materials: Everyone Looks At Nvidia, But Chips Must Be Built First

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes that while the market focuses on companies like Nvidia and AMD, the true center of AI technology lies upstream in the semiconductor manufacturing process, particularly in deposition, etch, and chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) [1] Company Summary - Applied Materials (AMAT) is identified as a key supplier in the semiconductor manufacturing sector, crucial for the production of chips that power AI technologies [1] Industry Summary - The article highlights the importance of upstream processes in semiconductor manufacturing, suggesting that without these processes, chips cannot be produced, thus underscoring the foundational role of companies like Applied Materials in the AI ecosystem [1]